Insulated splice connector and fluid stop



P 22, 1964 L. J. DINGER INSULATED SPLICE commcwoa AND mun STOP Filed July 17, 1962 I In INVENTOR. LEON 3'. D\NGER Un d t t s Pa 3,150,233 INSULATED SPLICE CONNECTOR AND FLUID STOP Leon J. Dinger, Harrisburg, Pa, assignor to AMP Incorporated, Harrisburg, Pa. Filed July 17, 1962, Ser. No. 216,388 4 Claims. (Cl. 174-84) Many devices utilizing gases or liquids having noxious fumes have electrical circuitry incorporated therein. The problem of sealing the contaminating gases in such devices is complicated by the fact that if the circuitry extends into the region containing the noxious vapor, fumes may escape through the insulated conductors. Particularly in the use of stranded wire or a fabric insulation on the wire, the possibilities of emission of such fumes are increased.

It is an object of this invention to provide a splice designed to prohibit escape of fumes via the wire. It is also an object of this invention to provide means for preventing travel of the fumes through the conductor without destroying the mechanical or electrical effectiveness of the conductor. It is a further object of this invention to provide such a device that does not materially increase the diameter of the conductor. This may be accomplished by undercutting the body of the device to accommodate thin metal rings which secure a sheath of dielectric material to the splice.

Other objects and attainments of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which there is shown and described an illustrative embodiment of the invention; it is to be understood, however, that this embodiment is not intended to be exhaustive nor limiting of the invention but is given for purposes of illustration in order that others skilled in the art may fully understand the invention and the principles thereof and the manner of applying it in practical use so that they may modify it in various forms, each as may be best suited to the conditions of a particular use.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 illustrates a cutaway, perspective view of a splice embodying the principles of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary, exploded view of some of the elements of the splice;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view of one end of the splice of FIGURE 1 secured to a conductor;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken through plane 44 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken through plane 5-5 of FIGURE 3.

As shown in FIGURES 1 and 3, the device consists of a shaft or mandrel 10, having an outer insulation sleeve 12 and a pair of rings 14 and 16. The central portion 18 of the shaft (FIGURE 3) has a solid metallic crosssection. Each end of the shaft is tubular, as at 20 and 22, and adapted to receive a conductor 24 therein. An undercut portion 26 extends circumferentially around the surface of the shaft between the central portion 18 and the tubular portion 20. A similar undercut portion 28 also extends between the central portion 18 and the other tubular portion 22. The shaft may be integrally formed, preferably of the same material as the conductor 24.

A clear plastic sheath 12 surrounding the shaft 10 may be any suitable plastic having dielectric properties and capable of transmitting crimping pressure without rupturing or tearing. The plastic sleeve 12 is considerably longer than the shaft 10 to provide an overhang 30 at one end which embraces the insulation 32 on the conductor 24. A second conductor 24', having an outer insulation covering 32', is capable of fitting into the tubular member 22 at the opposite end of the shaft 10. The tubular sleeve 12 has a similar overhang 36 at its opposite end to embrace the insulation sleeve 32' on the conductor 24'. r

The rings 14 and 16 are of thin metal and have an inside diameter only slightly larger than the outside diameter of the plastic sleeve 12. Also a pair of inspection holes 38 and 40 are provided in the tubular members 20 and 22 respectively. These inspection holes extend into the tubular member so that when the conductor 24 is inserted into the tubular member 20, it is possible to see that the conductor is properly located in the tubular member.

The device is assembled by inserting the shaft 10 into the plastic sleeve 12, with the desired overhang at each end. The rings 14 and 16 are slipped over the plastic sleeve 12, and located in the vicinity of the undercut portions 26 and 28. The rings 14 and 16 are deformed to secure the sleeve onto the mandrel in the described relationship.

When it is desired to apply the device to a pair of conductors, the uninsulated end of one of the conductors 24 is inserted into the tubular member 20 a suflicient distance so that it is visible through the inspection hole 38. This causes the insulation 32 on the conductor to be surrounded by the overhang 30 of the plastic sleeve 12. The tubular member 20 is deformed or crimped, as at 50, by a pair of dies (not shown) to cold-forge the metal of the tubular member onto the conductor 24 into a sub stantially solid cross-sectional mass. The other conductor 24 is inserted into the corresponding tubular member 22 and joined thereto in the same manner.

In the assembled relationship, it is apparent that any noxious gases emanating through the conductor 24' or the insulation sleeve 32 will be trapped by the device shown herein, and their continued flow through the opposite conductor is prohibited.

Changes in construction will occur to those skilled in the art and various apparently difierent modifications and embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only. The actual scope of the invention is intended to be defined in the following claims when viewed in their proper perspective against the prior art.

' I claim:

1. As an article of manufacture, an electrical connector for electrically splicing electrical conductor means, comprising a solid metallic conductive member having at each end tubularsections for receiving therein said electrical conductor means to be secured therein, said metallic conductive member having disposed thereon at least one undercut portion between said tubular sections, an outer insulating sleeve surrounding said metallic conductive member and extending beyond said tubular sections for overlying said electrical conductor means, and ring-like means disposed along said insulating sleeve and overlying said undercut portion, said ring-like means being deformed in said undercut portion to secure said insulating sleeve onto said metallic conductive member.

2. The article according to claim 1 wherein each of said tubular sections has an opening adjacent its inner end to permit inspection.

3. An electrical connection comprising a solid metallic conductive member having openings disposed in each end thereof and coaxial therewith, said metallic conductive member having at least one undercut portion therein between the inner ends of the openings, an insulating sleeve surrounding said metallic conductive member and extending beyond the ends thereof, ring-like means on said insulating sleeve overlying said undercut portion and de- B3 formed therein to secure said insulating sleeve on said metallic conductive member, and insulated conductor means having the conductive means thereof disposed and secured in each of said openings with the extensions of said insulating sleeve surrounding the insulation of said 5 conductor means.

4. An electrical connection according to claim 3 wherein the diameter of said metallic conductive member and a 4 surrounding insulating sleeve is slightly greater than that of said insulated conductor means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,674,647 Dibner Apr. 6, 1954 2,932,685 Raila et a1. Apr. 12, 1960 2,981,787 Brautigam et a1. Apr. 25, 1961 

1. AS AN ARTICLE OF MANUFACTURE, AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR FOR ELECTRICALLY SPLICING ELECTRICAL CONDUCTOR MEANS, COMPRISING A SOLID METALLIC CONDUCTIVE MEMBER HAVING AT EACH END TUBULAR SECTIONS FOR RECEIVING THEREIN SAID ELECTRICAL CONDUCTOR MEANS TO BE SECURED THEREIN, SAID METALLIC CONDUCTIVE MEMBER HAVING DISPOSED THEREON AT LEAST ONE UNDERCUT PORTION BETWEEN SAID TUBULAR SECTIONS, AN OUTER INSULATING SLEEVE SURROUNDING SAID METALLIC CONDUCTIVE MEMBER AND EXTENDING BEYOND SAID TUBULAR SECTIONS FOR OVERYLYING SAID ELECTRICAL CONDUCTOR MEANS, AND RING-LIKE MEANS DISPOSED ALONG SAID INSULATING SLEEVES AND OVERLYING SAID UNDERCUT PORTION, SAID RING-LIKE MEANS BEING DEFORMED IN SAID UNDERCUT PORTION TO SECURE SAID INSULATING SLEEVE ONTO SAID METALLIC CONDUCTIVE MEMBER. 